Nurses want problems at hospital fixed

Nurses at a central NSW hospital will consider industrial action if major problems at the facility are not addressed "promptly", their union says.

A senior planning official in the region has been stood down after a number of design faults were identified at the new $98 million Bathurst Base Hospital.

The problems, including undersized operating theatres and intensive care wards and sheer drops accessible from the proposed mental health unit, were revealed earlier this month.

The NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) said on Monday officials conducted an occupational health and safety inspection of the hospital last week and the results would be handed to former state and federal MP Ian Sinclair.

NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher has appointed Mr Sinclair as an administrator to help to identify and fix design issues at the hospital.

NSWNA assistant general secretary Judith Kiejda said there were also heavy nursing workloads at the facility, with some nurses working more than 100 hours last fortnight.

"It is just unbelievable that a brand new facility can have so many occupational health and safety problems," she said in a statement.

"Nurses expect that these issues, including the heavy workloads, will be addressed promptly and properly.

"If the problems are not fixed then Bathurst nurses will meet in the next few weeks to consider what action to take to get them fixed."